PAS needs to change attitude if it wants to join unity govt, says Zahid

PETALING JAYA: PAS needs to change its attitude first before it can be part of the unity government, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Barisan Nasional chairman admitted that the coalition was “fed up” with PAS, as the Islamist party had no loyalty as a coalition partner and practices “mut’ah marriage” in politics (political marriage of convenience).

“We worked with PAS much earlier and we have experience cooperating with them.

“If they don’t like it, they will dump you. They have done this five to six times already. Political marriage of convenience for them.

“PAS needs to change their attitude. If they have done political marriage of convenience between five to six times, in the end those who are ‘married’ to them will be fed up,” Ahmad Zahid, who is the Deputy Prime Minister, told reporters after attending the Wawancara Belanjawan 2024 Selamat Pagi Malaysia’ programme at Wisma Berita, Angkasapuri, here, on Sunday (Oct 15).

He was asked about the remarks made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who did not dismiss the possibility that he was ready to consider making the Islamist party a partner in the unity government.

In a recent interview with American-based news magazine Time, the PKR president and Pakatan Harapan chairman revealed that the government had already sent an invitation to PAS on the matter.

However, Anwar said a line would have to be drawn to protect the rights of all citizens in the country.

“Yes, I have been open to the idea from the beginning. After all, this is a unity government and we do what is best for our country.

“But of course, we are going to draw a line. Islam is the religion of the federation, but this is a multi-religious country and I want every single citizen in this country, of all religious persuasions, to know that they have a place in this country,” he was quoted as saying in the report.